The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

SECTION CCIII

(Viduragamana Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’Dhritarashtra replied
saying, I desire to do exactly what you would recommend.
But I do not wish to inform Vidura of it even by a
change of muscle. It was, therefore, O son, that
I was applauding the Pandavas in Vidura’s presence,
so that he might not know even by a sign what is in
my mind. Now that Vidura hath gone away, this
is the time, O Suyodhana (Duryodhana), for telling
me what thou hast hit upon, and what, O Radheya (Karna),
thou too hast hit upon.’

“Duryodhana said. ’Let us, O father,
by means of trusted and skilful and adroit Brahmanas,
seek to produce dissensions between the sons of Kunti
and Madri. Or, let king Drupada and his sons,
and all his ministers of state, be plied with presents
of large wealth, so that they may abandon the cause
of Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti. Or, let our
spies induce the Pandavas to settle in Drupada’s
dominions, by describing to them, separately, the
inconvenience of residing in Hastinapura, so that,
separated from as, they may permanently settle in Panchala.
Or, let some clever spies, full of resources, sowing
the seeds of dissension among the Pandavas, make them
jealous of one another. Or, let them incite Krishna
against her husbands. She has many lords and this
will not present any difficulty. Or, let some
seek to make the Pandavas themselves dissatisfied
with Krishna, in which case Krishna also will be dissatisfied
with them. Or, let, O king, some clever spies,
repairing thither, secretly compass the death of Bhimasena.
Bhima is the strongest of them all. Relying upon
Bhima alone, the Pandavas used to disregard us, of
old. Bhima is fierce and brave and the (sole)
refuge of the Pandavas. If he be slain, the others
will be deprived of strength and energy. Deprived
of Bhima who is their sole refuge, they will no longer
strive to regain their kingdom. Arjuna, O king,
is invincible in battle, if Bhima protecteth him from
behind. Without Bhima, Arjuna is not equal to
even a fourth part of Radheya. Indeed, O king,
the Pandavas conscious of their own feebleness without
Bhima and of our strength would not really strive
to recover the kingdom. Or, if, O monarch, coming
hither, they prove docile and obedient to us, we would
then seek to repress them according to the dictates
of political science (as explained by Kanika).
Or, we may tempt them by means of handsome girls,
upon which the princess of Panchala will get annoyed
with them. Or, O Radheya, let messengers be despatched
to bring them hither, so that, when arrived, we may
through trusted agents, by some of the above methods,
cause them to be slain. Strive, O father, to
employ any of these (various) methods that may appear
to thee faultless. Time passeth. Before their
confidence in king Drupada—­that bull amongst
kings—­is established we may succeed, O
monarch, to encounter them. But after their confidence
hath been established in Drupada, we are sure to fail.
These, O father, are my views for the discomfiture
of the Pandavas. Judge whether they be good or
bad. What, O Karna, dost thou think?’”